Daily Uses of Helium, Propane, and Other Industrial Gases

The global industrial gas market is predicted to reach $146.6 billion by 2028. You may be wondering: how is this market so expansive?

Industrial gases by used by a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, petrochemicals, chemicals, power, mining, steelmaking, metals, environmental protection, medicine, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food, water, fertilizers, nuclear power, electronics and aerospace.

Believe it or not, we use industrial gases like helium, CO2, propane and others in our daily lives, too. There are many purposes that you might not have thought of before. For example, you’re planning a party. There are at least four industrial gases involved in this activity: Helium, Propane, Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen.

Helium Gas: Balloon Ready

What do you picture in your mind when you think of a party? Balloons, of course! These floating balls of celebration cannot be possible without the use of helium gas.

Helium is a lighter gas than the oxygen in our atmosphere, allowing the balloons to stay in the air for long periods without falling.

Some people inhale balloon gas for fun as this can heighten the pitch of one’s voice, but inhaling helium is dangerous and should be avoided because it can cause your body’s oxygen level to drop to dangerous low levels.

Propane Gas: Cookout Galore

The best parties offer a variety of foods, and propane grills are often used in outdoor parties whether you’re cooking burgers, sautéing vegetables, or toasting a marshmallow.

Heating lamps and fire pits often use propane to light up and warm outdoor restaurants and other activity venues.

Propane gas is also used to heat and power home appliances, as well as industrial and construction sites.

Carbon Dioxide: Drink Up

There’s no party without a nice glass of carbonated deliciousness. Carbon dioxide is used to carbonate your favorite sodas. A mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2) gas, often called beer gas, are used to dispense draft beer from the taps.

Carbonation can be a naturally occurring byproduct of fermented drinks such as beer or kombucha. However, that process is inconsistent. Therefore, the drinks we purchase today still get a little boost from a carbon dioxide tank. It’s unlikely that you step into a restaurant or club that does not have carbon dioxide attached to its drink machine.

Nitrogen Gas: Keeping Things Cool

No one wants a warm drink or stale appetizers during a party. Thanks to nitrogen, these things are kept cool in the refrigerator!

Nitrogen gas is a key cryogenic agent that aids in freezing our foods. It plays an important role in reducing food spoilage, discoloration, and off-flavors. So the next time you want a quick meal after a long day, thank the nitrogen that made it possible!

Party on With Industrial Gases

Whether it be a cookout, soirée, dance party, gala, or stay-at-home date, industrial gases like helium, propane, carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas have saved the day. They keep you comfortable, satisfied, and festive day-in and day-out.

Boost Your Small Business with Balloon Marketing

 In the competitive world of small business marketing, standing out can be a challenge. However, one creative and eye-catching way to grab attention is by using balloons. Balloons are not just for parties; they can be a powerful tool for marketing and promoting your business. In this blog post, we'll explore various ways to use balloons for marketing your small business, along with tips for maximizing their impact.

Why Balloons?

Balloons are visually appealing, versatile, and cost-effective. They can draw attention from a distance, creating a festive and inviting atmosphere that attracts customers. Here are some key reasons to consider using balloons in your marketing strategy:

1. High Visibility: Balloons are bright and colorful, making them hard to miss. They can be seen from a distance, helping to draw foot traffic to your location.
2. Cost-Effective: Compared to other marketing tools, balloons are relatively inexpensive. They offer great value for the impact they can create.
3. Versatility: Balloons can be used in various ways, from grand openings and special promotions to everyday advertising.
4. Customizable: Balloons can be printed with your business logo, slogan, or any other custom message to reinforce your brand.

Photo by Diwei Zhu on Unsplash

Creative Balloon Marketing Ideas

1. Grand Openings and Special Events

Use balloons to make a big splash at your grand opening or special event. Balloon arches, columns, and clusters can create a festive atmosphere and make your event memorable. You can also use large balloon arrangements to create photo opportunities for your guests, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

2. Promotional Giveaways

Hand out balloons printed with your business logo at community events, fairs, or festivals. These branded balloons serve as mini billboards, spreading awareness of your business as people carry them around. This is a great way to reach a wider audience and create a positive association with your brand.

3. In-Store Decorations

Decorate your storefront or business interior with balloons to attract customers and create a welcoming atmosphere. Use balloons to highlight special promotions or sales. For example, you can use balloons in your brand colors to draw attention to a new product display or a sale section.

4. Balloon Deliveries

Offer balloon delivery services for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays. Customers can order customized balloon bouquets that you deliver to their loved ones, creating a memorable experience associated with your business.

5. Outdoor Advertising

Place large balloon arrangements outside your store to draw attention from passersby. Balloons can be attached to signs or used to create eye-catching displays that make your business stand out from the competition. Giant balloons or balloon inflatables can be particularly effective for outdoor advertising.

6. Social Media Campaigns

Use balloons as part of your social media marketing strategy. Create visually appealing balloon displays and encourage customers to take photos and share them on social media with a specific hashtag. You can even run contests or giveaways where customers can win prizes for the best balloon-themed photos.

Tips for Effective Balloon Marketing

• Plan Ahead: Ensure you have a clear plan for how you will use balloons in your marketing strategy. Consider the timing, placement, and design to maximize their impact.
• Quality Matters: Invest in high-quality balloons and helium to ensure your displays look professional and last as long as possible.
• Safety First: Follow safety guidelines when using balloons, especially for outdoor displays. Secure balloons properly to prevent them from floating away and becoming litter.
• Brand Consistency: Use balloons in your brand colors and include your logo or other branding elements to reinforce your brand identity.
• Engage Your Audience: Encourage customer interaction with your balloon displays. This could include taking photos, participating in contests, or sharing their experiences on social media.

Where to Get Balloons for Your Business

You can source balloons from local party supply stores or online retailers. For custom-printed balloons, look for specialized balloon suppliers that offer branding services. Consider renting helium tanks or using a helium gas supplier to ensure you have enough helium for your displays.

Conclusion

Balloons can be a powerful and cost-effective marketing tool for small businesses. Whether you're hosting a grand opening, running a promotion, or simply looking to attract more customers, balloons offer a versatile and eye-catching solution. By incorporating balloons into your marketing strategy, you can create a festive atmosphere, increase brand visibility, and engage your audience in a fun and memorable way.

Happy Marketing!

The Role of Helium Balloons in Large-Scale Events and Parades

Helium balloons are more than just colorful decorations; they play a significant role in creating the spectacle and grandeur associated with large-scale events and parades. From their majestic presence in parades to their ability to captivate audiences at festivals, helium balloons bring an element of wonder and excitement that few other decorations can match. In this blog post, we'll explore the various ways helium balloons are used in large-scale events and parades and why they are an essential component of these celebrations.

The Magic of Helium Balloons

Helium balloons, with their ability to float effortlessly in the air, add a dynamic and visually stunning element to any event. Here are some of the key reasons why they are so effective in large-scale events and parades:

1. Visual Impact: Helium balloons are highly visible and can be seen from great distances, making them ideal for drawing attention and creating a sense of anticipation.
2. Versatility: They come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, allowing for endless creative possibilities in terms of design and theme.
3. Movement: The floating nature of helium balloons adds a sense of movement and liveliness, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the event.
4. Branding Opportunities: Balloons can be customized with logos, messages, or images, providing excellent opportunities for branding and marketing.

Helium Balloons in Parades

Parades are synonymous with vibrant colors, larger-than-life characters, and a sense of community celebration. Helium balloons play a crucial role in bringing these parades to life. Here's how:

1. Giant Character Balloons

One of the most iconic uses of helium balloons in parades is the giant character balloons that float above the streets. These balloons, often shaped like beloved cartoon characters, animals, or iconic symbols, are crowd favorites. They require careful planning and coordination to handle but are worth the effort for the awe they inspire.

• Example: The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City is renowned for its giant helium balloons featuring characters like Snoopy, Spider-Man, and Pikachu. This annual event showcases a variety of enormous, helium-filled balloons that are meticulously crafted and managed by teams of handlers, captivating millions of viewers both in person and on television.

Photo by Chris Chow on Unsplash

2. Balloon Floats

In addition to character balloons, helium is used to create balloon floats. These floats often combine traditional parade floats with large helium-filled elements, creating a hybrid that is both ground-based and aerial.

• Example: Balloon floats can be seen in various parades, adding height and drama to the processions.

3. Balloon Releases

Balloon releases, where hundreds or thousands of helium balloons are released into the sky simultaneously, can create a breathtaking visual spectacle. However, it's essential to consider environmental impacts and opt for biodegradable balloons and responsible release practices.

• Example: Balloon releases are often used to mark the beginning or end of an event, symbolizing celebration and unity.

Helium Balloons at Large-Scale Events

Beyond parades, helium balloons are also integral to various large-scale events, including festivals, sports events, and corporate celebrations.

1. Festivals and Fairs

At festivals and fairs, helium balloons are used to create a festive atmosphere and guide attendees through the event space. Balloon arches, columns, and clusters can mark entrances, stages, and special areas.

• Example: Music festivals often use helium balloons to create visually striking installations and interactive art pieces.

2. Sports Events

Helium balloons are a popular choice for pre-game and halftime shows at sports events. They can be used to create team logos, mascots, or celebratory messages, adding to the excitement and fanfare.

• Example: At major sports events like the Super Bowl, helium balloons are part of the elaborate pre-game and halftime entertainment.

3. Corporate Events

For corporate events and product launches, helium balloons offer a way to incorporate branding and create a memorable experience for attendees. Customized balloons can display company logos, new product images, or promotional messages.

• Example: Tech companies often use helium balloons at product launches to unveil new gadgets in a visually dramatic fashion.

Sourcing Helium for Large-Scale Events

For large-scale events and parades that require a significant amount of helium, it is crucial to have a reliable supplier. AGP (American Gas Products) is a national bulk helium supplier that can provide enough helium to meet the demands of these grand events. Their expertise and large supply capacity ensure that even the most ambitious helium balloon displays can be brought to life without any hitches.

Conclusion

Helium balloons are an essential element of large-scale events and parades, providing visual impact, versatility, and a sense of wonder. From giant character balloons in parades like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to branded balloon installations at corporate events, their ability to float and captivate makes them a powerful tool for event organizers. With a reliable helium supplier like AGP, event planners can rest assured that their balloon displays will soar to new heights, creating memorable experiences for all attendees.

Whether you're planning a parade, festival, or corporate event, consider the magic of helium balloons to elevate your celebration to new heights.

Do Parade Balloons Use Helium to Float?

From Ronald MacDonald to Olaf, and Snoopy to Baby Yoda, there’s no more iconic way to celebrate Thanksgiving than watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon lineup.

If you want a peek behind the scenes, you can even watch as the balloons are inflated on Thanksgiving Day eve!

But have you ever wondered what makes those gigantic balloons float?

There is more science behind helium for balloons than you might think. Keep reading to learn about the types of balloon gas and more so you can understand how your favorite parade balloons stay aloft.

Types of Balloon Gas

Helium isn’t the only gas that you can use to fill balloons. Hydrogen also works in some cases.

Both helium and hydrogen are lighter than air. That means that when you fill a container with them (like a balloon), they rise. That’s why they are used in balloons as well as other applications.

Does Hydrogen Work for Parade Balloons?

Hydrogen is lighter than air, so it could hold up a parade balloon. However, it’s highly flammable. It can combust when exposed to high temperatures.

This makes it useful for industrial applications and some hot air balloons. However, hydrogen isn’t a good choice for parade balloons — nobody wants to see their favorite cartoon character explode on Thanksgiving Day!

Does Helium Work for Parade Balloons?

Helium gas is one of the noble gases. This means it’s stable, or nonreactive. It won’t react to extremes in temperature, and it doesn’t burn when exposed to fire.

This makes it the perfect gas for parade balloons. No matter what happens to the balloon, helium gas won’t cause a dangerous reaction like catching fire or exploding. This makes it safe enough for commercial uses like parades.

That’s why parade balloons use helium to stay aloft. It’s not just lighter than air, but safe enough to use.

Balloon Helium Science

Keeping parade balloons filled with helium is no easy feat. Each Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade balloon is the size of a building.

Helium is lighter than air, but it can also lift additional weight. One cubic foot of helium can lift about one-third of a pound, and each parade balloon can weigh up to 400 pounds. Fortunately, each parade balloon contains about 12,000 cubic feet of helium, keeping the balloons afloat.

Gas expands when exposed to heat and contracts in the cold. The cold air of Thanksgiving Day mornings usually causes the balloon gas to contract slightly, giving the balloons a deflated look. To fix this, parade organizers make sure the balloons stay on the sunny side of the street, letting the warmth from the sun plump up the balloons.

Where to Get the Helium for Parade Balloons

There’s more science behind the spectacular balloons you see at parades than you might have expected. With this article, you can understand how helium parade balloons work!

It’s not always easy to find the best balloon helium, especially when helium resources are scarce. An industrial gas supplier with their own wells and fill plants might be the way to go to ensure your helium supply.

Should I Buy Helium-filled or Air-filled balloons?

How do you choose which balloons to buy for your event? Both latex and foil balloons can be filled with either helium or air and both come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.  Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether to go with helium-filled or air-filled balloons.

Float Time
Helium is less dense than air so helium-filled balloons typically rise higher than air-filled balloons and float effortlessly.  That makes helium a good choice if you want dramatic party decorations like a bunch of balloons floating over each table. Float time for helium-filled latex balloons is about 8-10 hours (longer if treated with Hi-Float).  Float time for helium-filled foil or Mylar balloons is usually about three to four days.  Some balloon brands can stay inflated for up to three weeks.  Air-filled balloons don’t really float but they look great taped to the ceiling with ribbons and are excellent for building balloon arches.

Cost
Helium-filled balloons can be more expensive than those filled with air. However, they last much longer and are easily refillable, providing better value.  

Variety
Both types of balloons can be customized for your event with messages, graphics, and designs. Helium-filled foil (Mylar) balloons are available in a much wider range of shapes like cartoon characters, dinosaurs, and princesses than those available for latex balloons.

Refilling
Foil (Mylar) balloons filled with helium can easily be refilled with more helium once they start to deflate.  Once you fill a latex balloon with air and tie it off, the balloon cannot be refilled. If you need lots of balloons, renting a helium tank can cost less than buying pre-filled balloons.   If you rent or buy helium tanks, you can get cost-effective refills and keep your decorations looking great.

Reasons to Rent a Helium Tank to Fill Balloons

Balloons definitely mean party! Floating helium-filled balloons add that special decorative excitement to any kind of celebration.  Do you want to bring the fun and excitement of balloons to your event? Consider renting a helium tank and filling balloons yourself.  Here are some reasons to do so.

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Suits Any Occasion
People rent helium tanks to fill balloons for all kinds of celebrations. Birthday and graduation parties, wedding receptions, and baby showers immediately come to mind. Then there are grand openings, ribbon cuttings, and other corporate events.  Whatever you want to celebrate, helium-filled balloons add a special something to it.  You can use balloons to make sculptures, centerpieces, bouquets or other more elaborate decorations to create a party theme limited only by your imagination.  Renting a tank and filling the balloons yourself gives you the flexibility to go with your imagination.

Cost-Effective
If you need lots of balloons, renting a helium tank can cost less than buying pre-filled balloons or buying a disposable tank. If you’re creating a huge balloon arch or an amazing balloon ceiling, you’ll probably need to fill lots of balloons.  A rented helium tank usually fills more balloons than a disposable one. Rental tanks are also available in a variety of sizes and can be refilled. Helium tank refills can be obtained from helium gas suppliers around the country. The bottom line is you’ll get more helium for a lower price by renting a tank than by buying a disposable one.

Easy
Rental tanks are simple to operate and some of them have carrying handles so they’re easy to transport. Many helium suppliers offer delivery, for even more convenience.  Also, you don’t have to worry about proper disposal as you would for a disposable tank.

Safe
Since helium is not flammable or explosive, rental helium tanks, although pressurized, can fill balloons safely.
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Helium tank rental service is available from many helium gas suppliers and party stores. Check them out online!

The Global Helium Shortage and How Balloon Businesses Can Deal With It

You may have heard reports of a global shortage of helium or that the helium market will be tight in 2019.   Fluctuations in the helium supply are nothing new. About three quarters of the global helium supply comes from the U.S. and a move by Congress in 1996 to privatize the Federal Helium Program has been cited as a cause for disruptions and instability in the availability and price of helium [1].  In addition, worldwide refinery equipment failures and increased demand for helium from newly industrialized countries such as China, exacerbates the shortage. All this can negatively impact your balloon business.​

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Where Does Helium Come From?

Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe but it only makes up about 0.0005% of the earth’s atmosphere. So do we get it from the atmosphere? No. Helium is recovered from underground natural gas deposits. Most helium sold today is a byproduct of the natural gas industry.  Much of the U.S. national helium supply comes from allocations of helium from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) helium reserves. However not all helium comes from BLM sources. A wholesale supplier that gets its helium from independent sources can be more stable and help smooth out the fluctuations.
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​Who Uses Helium?

Beyond inflating party balloons and filling blimps, helium is used in medical and scientific applications. Superconducting magnets used in MRI scanners and chemistry lab equipment need to be bathed in liquid helium in order to function.  Helium is also used for pressurizing rocket fuel tanks, as an inert shield for arc welding, and in scuba tanks.
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​What about My Party Balloons?

If helium gas refills become harder to get, there are plenty of things you can do to provide great party balloons for your customers. Get creative with air-filled latex and foil balloons. Use string to make balloon garlands.  Create a balloon arch or balloon wall using tape or rods and magnets to hold balloons up.
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​Where Can I Get a Stable Helium Supply at Stable Prices?

AGP has its own helium wells and is the largest independent purchaser of balloon helium in the US Market. AGP is not a broker. AGP has a strong supply chain with wholesale helium supply to strategic partners combined with 28 state direct supply. Its vertically integrated supply is one of the strongest in the industry. AGP provides nationwide as well as global coverage. It is a stable helium gas supplier you can rely on.

[1] Why Is There a Helium Shortage? Popular Mechanics. 2012.